Curtain operating mechanism



Sept. 10,1935. H LT- T 2,014,178

CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 6, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 10, 1935. T. w. HOLT ET AL CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN 0R5 ATTORNEYS Sept. 10, 1935. T w HOLT ET AL 2,014,178

CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY 5.

Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNETE STATES htl hilt FATE 'l QFFECE CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANIISM Application February 6, 1934, Serial No. 709,984

12 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for raising and lowering curtains from a point remote from the curtain or window and particularly mechanism for raising and lowering the back window curtain of a motor vehicle from the drivers seat and has for its object a particularly simple mechanical operating means as distinguished from an electrical, and the location of the operating parts thereof relative to the window opening or frame.

It further has for its object an arrangement of a curtain mechanism including two members, one of which is a winding roller, with any suitable means for operating it, which members extend parallel to each other and spring means acting upon the other member, and the relative arrangement of these members to the window opening.

It also has for its object an equalizing spring acting through any suitable operating mechanism on the roller in opposition to spring means to neutralize 0r counterbalance, wholly or partly, the influence of the spring means on the roller, so that the mechanism acts easily and with minimum operating effort. It further has for its object a curtain mechanism of the same general type, wherein the spring actuated member or spring means may be either a spring roller or a batten strip at one end of the roller with spring means acting on opposite ends of the batten strip.

It further has for its object a curtain mechanism in which the spring actuated member is a spring roller on which the curtain is wound, the curtain having spaced apart strips or tapes or runners, preferably located at the opposite side edges of the curtain and extending across opposite ends of the window frame and winding on the actuator roller, which may be actuated in any suitable manner.

It further has for its object a manually operated mechanism for operating the actuating roller and including a screw member extending axially of the roller and connected thereto through nut means to rotate the same in one direction or the other upon axial movement of the screw member, the screw member or some part connected thereto, extending axially beyond one end of the roller, where it is-connected to mechanism, which is operated by the operator.

Other objects will appear throughout the specification.

The invention consists in the novel features and. in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is an elevation of one embodiment of this curtain mechanism, the same being shown as applied to the rear wall of an automobile body, 5 which is shown fragmentarily, the seat-back of the rear seat of the vehicle being removed.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View, taken approximately on line 2-2, Figure l, the operating mechanism including connections extending to lo within reach of the drivers seat being also shown.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary sectional view through the actuating roller.

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views taken respectively on lines 4 l, '5-5, Figure 3. l5

Figures 6 and '7 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 of another embodiment of our invention.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional fragmentary view through the batten strip at one end of the roller and the contiguous portion of the spring 0 means and housing acting on each end of the batten strip.

The chief use of a curtain mechanism of this character is in automobiles to lower the rear curtain from the drivers'seat to shut oii the rays 5 from headlights of cars following 'close behind and alsoat times to cut elf horizontal rays of the sun when coming through the rear window.

We have shown our invention as embodied in an automobile body construction. i designates the rear wall structure of the body of an automobile, which wall is formed with a window framing '2. 3 is the glass pane in the window opening and 3 designates the 'usual back of the rear seat. 5 designates the floor of the car; 6 the dash, and l the instrument board strip.

This invention comprises a curtain mechanism including two members extending parallel to each other, one being an actuating roller extending along one of the window frame members, as the lower horizontal frame member and the other member being spring actuated and acting on the curtain and tensioned by the operation of the roller, when the roller is rotated in one direction, and acting on the curtain when the roller is turned in the opposite direction and operating means for actuating the roller in one direction or the other, this means including mechanism, which is self-restraining, in order that the curtain may remain in any of its operated positions, and also an equalizing spring acting in opposition to the spring means acting on the curtain, in order to partly or wholly counterbalance the spring means, so that the mechanism operates with minimum effort, both when power operated or when embodying the operator-operated feature of this invent-ion.

In Figures 1 and 2, ll designates the operating roller and I2 the spring actuated member which is a spring roller. The actuating roller is mounted in suitable brackets 63 and i4 secured to the rear wall frame or the window framing, the roller H extending along the lower edge of the window opening, and the mechanism to be presently described being located within the seat back 4 and concealed thereby and below the frame member 2 against which the seat back rests at its upper edge. The roller 12 is supported by suitable brackets l5 and set in the rear wall structure I above the upper sill of the window frame 2, and the free end of the curtain is connected to the roller l I by strips, tapes or runners l6 which wind on the roller l i. These tapes [6 extend along or lap the upright members of the window frame. As the construction and operation of a spring curtain roller is very old in the art, a description and illustration of such a spring curtain roller is thought to be unnecessary.

It is obvious that upon winding of the roller II in one direction, the tapes IE will be wound thereon and the curtain unwound from the spring roller l2 and brought down across the window opening and then upon unwinding of the roller H, the spring roller will react and rewind the curtain thereon.

In Figure 6, the spring actuated member instead of being a spring roller is a batten tube or strip l1 secured in any well known manner to the upper end of the curtain and it is spring actuated by springs l8 thrusting against pins or trunnions l9 extending beyond the ends of the tubular batten strip and overlapping the vertical window frame members. The springs l8 are housed in suitable guides 20, as tubular guides, extending lengthwise of the vertical members of the window frame at opposite lateral sides of the window opening and having brackets 2| at their ends which are secured to the window frame. The springs at their upper ends thrust against heads or plungers 22 which slidably fit the tubular guides 20 and which in turn thrust against the pins IS. The pins extend through lengthwise slots 23 in the guides 20 and have rounding heads 24 which coact with the spring thrust heads 22.

In operation, when the actuating roller is rotated in one direction, the curtain will be wound thereon and pulled down against the action of the springs I8 and when the roller is moved in the opposite direction, the springs 18 will react and lift the batten strip. In either form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 6, the curtain mechanism includes two members, one of which is an actuating roller and the other a spring actuated member, either a spring roller or a spring actuated batten strip.

As seen in Figure 3, the actuating roller H is rotated in one direction or the other by a reciprocating actuator including a slide and screw means operated by the slide, said actuator being movable axially of the roller. The slide extends axially. beyond one end of the roller II, and the projecting end is connected to a prime mover. The roller H is mounted in any suitable manner at one end in the bracket M and at its other end is mounted on a stationary tube 25 fixed in the bracket l3, the roller having spaced apart bearings at 25 and 2! on the tube, and the screw means consists of a strip having its opposite end portions 28 and 29 twisted spirally in opposite directions, the end portion 29 extending into the tube 25 and being connected by a swivel joint 38 to the slide 3|, which extends beyond the end of the roller and through the bracket 13. The spiral end portion 28 coacts with nut means, as a suitable slot or opening 33 formed in a head 34 fixed in the roller II, and the spiral end portion 29 coacts with nut means at the inner end of the tube 25, here shown as provided by the opposite straight branches of a U-shaped element or staple 35 extending through the inner end of the tube 25. As the pitches of the end portions 29 and 28 are opposite to each other, it is obvious that a maximum rotary movement will take place upon a minimum endwise sliding movement of the sliding actuator 3|, as the spiral strip and roller H are rotated in opposite directions during the axial endwise movement of the slide and screw.

The actuator 3| is operated from within reach of the drivers seat and as here shown, it is actuated through a motion transmitting element or lever, as an angle lever 40 pivoted at its angle at 41 to a suitable supporting plate 42 secured to the window frame, one arm of the lever being connected at 43, as by a pin-and-slotconnection, to the sliding actuator 3| and the other arm being connected to one end of a push-and-pull wire 45 which extends through a suitable tubular guide 46 to a handle 41 mounted in the instrument board strip 1. The wire 45 and its guide 46 constitute frictionally engaged members which act to restrain rotation of the roller H under the influence of the spring actuated roller or a spring actuated batten strip.

50 is the equalizing or counterbalancing spring, heretofore referred to, to ease the operating effort. This spring acts in opposition to the spring of the spring roller !2 or the springs l8. As here open. Hence, when the lever as is operated to I wind the roller II and tensions the spring of the spring roller I2, the spring 50 boosts the operators eiTort and when the lever 49 is actuated to raise or open the curtain at which time, the

spring of the roller l2 reacts, the spring 59 again acts in opposition to the curtain spring preventing violent reaction and sudden winding up of the curtain and relieves the operator of doing more than merely move the handle 41.

In Figure 6, when the lever 46 is operated to lower or close the curtain against the action of the springs 98, the spring 50 boosts the effort of the operator and when the lever 40 is operated to turn the roller I! to permit the springs H! to react and close the curtain, the spring 58 restrains violent reaction. Thus, the equalizing spring causes the curtain mechanism to work smoothly with little eifort on the part of the operator.

What we claim is:

l. A window curtain mechanism including two members spaced apart and a curtain extending between said members, the curtain being secured at its opposite ends to said members, one of said members being a roller and the other of said members being spring actuated and stressed by the "winding of the roller when the roller is actuated in one direction and operating means for rotating the roller in opposite directions.

2. A window curtain mechanism including two members spaced apart and a curtain extending between said members, the curtain being secured at its opposite ends to said members, one of said members being a roller and the other of said members being spring actuated and stressed by the winding of the roller when the roller is actuated in one direction and operating means for rotating the roller in opposite directions, said operating means including frictionally engaged members to restrain turning of the roller under the impulse of the spring actuated member.

3. A window curtain mechanism including two members spaced apart and a curtain extending between said members, the curtain being secured at its opposite ends to said members, one of said members being a roller and the other of said members being spring actuated and stressed by the winding of the roller when the roller is actuated in one direction and operating means for rotating the roller in opposite directions, the operating means including an equalizing spring acting thereon in opposition to the action of the spring actuated member.

l. A window curtain mechanism including two members spaced apart and a curtain extending between said members, the curtain being secured at its opposite ends to said members, one of said members being a roller and the other of said members being spring actuated and stressed by the winding of the roller when the roller is actuated in one direction and operating means for rotating the roller in opposite directions, the operating means including an equalizing spring acting thereon in opposition to the action of the spring actuated member and frictionally engaged members to restrain turning of the roller under the impulse of the spring actuated member.

5. A window curtain mechanism including two members spaced apart and a curtain extending between said members, the curtain being secured at its opposite ends to said members, one of said members being a roller and the other of said members being spring actuated and stressed by the winding of the roller when the roller is actuated in one direction and means for operating the roller in opposite directions, the operating means including an actuator extending axially of the roller within the same and movable axially thereof and one end of the actuator extending beyond one end of the roller, and operator-actuating means including a motion transmitting element connected to the actuator outside of the roller.

6. A widow curtain mechanism including two members spaced apart and a curtain extending between said members, the curtain being secured at its opposite ends to said members, one of said members being a roller and the other of said members being spring actuated and stressed by the winding of the roller when the roller is actuated in one direction and means for operating the roller in opposite directions, the operating means including an actuator extending axially of the roller within the same and movable axially thereof and one end of the actuator extending beyond one end of the roller, operator-actuating means including a motion transmitting element connected to the actuator outside of the roller, and an equalizing spring acting on the actuator to act in opposition to the spring actuated member.

7. A curtain mechanism including rollers carried by the frame along opposite edges of the window opening, one of the rollers being spring actuated, acurtain winding thereon and having spaced apart runners connected to the other roller to wind thereon, and operating means for rotating the other roller in opposite directions, said operating means including friction mechanisms for preventing rotation of the other roller under the influence of the spring roller, whereby the curtain remains in any one of its operated positions.

8. In a structure having a window opening and a window frame, a curtain mechanism including rollers carried by the frame along opposite edges of the window opening, one of the rollers being spring actuated, a curtain winding thereon and having spaced apart runners connected to the other roller to wind thereon, and operating means for rotating the other roller in opposite directions, said operating means including frictionally engaged members, one slidable relative to the other, for restraining rotation of the other roller under the influence of the spring roller and an equalizing spring acting through said operating means on the other roller in opposition to the spring of the spring actuated roller, whereby the curtain remains in any one of its operated positions.

9. In a structure having a window frame enclosing a window opening, a curtain mechanism including two spaced apart 'members extending parallel to each other, one member being an actuator roller extending along one of the window frame members and the other being movable across the window opening toward and from the roller, a curtain connected at its opposite ends to said members and winding on and unwinding from the roller, spring means carried by the frame along the sides of the frame at an angle to said members and adjacent the window opening, said spring means thrusting against the ends of said other member, and operating means for actuating the roller in one direction to wind the curtain thereon against the action of the spring means and in the other direction to permit the spring means to react and unwind the curtain.

10. In a structure having a window frame enclosing a window opening, a curtain mechanism including two spaced apart members extending parallel to each other, one member being an actuator roller extending along one of the window frame members and the other being movable across the window opening toward and from the roller, a curtain connected at its opposite ends to said members and winding on and unwinding from the roller, spring means carried by the frame along the sides of the frame at an angle to said members and adjacent the window opening, said spring means thrusting against the ends of said other member, and operating means for actuating the roller in one direction to wind the curtain thereon against the action of the spring means and in the other direction to permit the spring means to react and unwind the curtain, and an equalizing spring acting through the operating means on the roller in opposition to the spring means.

11. In a window curtain operating mechanism, the combination of a hollow rotary winding roller having supports therefor, one of said supports comprising a. stationary tube extending into the roller from one end thereof and the roller having bearings on the tube, whereby the roller rotates about the tube, mechanism for rotating the roller including an actuator comprising a slide slidable in the tube and projecting beyond one end of the same, and screw means connected to said slide and. movable axially therewith and. connected to the roller within the same to rotate the same, and nut means fixed to the roller for translating the axial movement of the screw means into a rotary movement of the roller when the actuator is actuated in one direction or the other, and an operating member and motion transmitting connections between the operating member and the actuator including a member connected to said projecting end of the actuator.

12. In a window curtain operating mechanism, the combination of a hollow rotary winding roller having supports therefor, one of said supports comprising a stationary tube extending into the roller from one end thereof and the roller having bearings on the tube, whereby the roller rotates about the tube, mechanism for rotating the roller including an actuator comprising a slide slidable in the tube and projecting beyond one end of the same, and screw means connected to said actuator and movable axially therewith, and nut means fixed in the roller and coacting with the screw means for translating the axial movement of the actuator into a rotary movement to the roller when the actuator is actuated in one direction or the other, the screw means being rotatably connected to the actuator and including a screw portion and a, nut therefor within the tube and said screw portion coacting with the nut of the tube, the screw portion being of opposite pitch from said screw means whereby when the actuator is moved axially, the screw means and the roller rotate in the same directions, thus causing the maximum rotation of the roller upon a minimum axial movement of the actuator, and means connected to the actuator to operate it.

THOMAS W. HOLT. JOHN F. LEVAN. 

